This vibrant continent combines Latin American flare with the all the
warmth of the Caribbean. It's colorful, exotic, sexy, historic and modern all at
the same time. It's mysterious. It's amazing. It's an adventure.

From the sultry and seductive city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to the
wondrous secrets of Machu Picchu in Peru - South America offers intriguing lands
of culture, natural beauty, and nostalgia. Those who visit this brave continent
will have a chance to discover and explore the cascading Iguazu Falls in the
jungles of Argentina, the marvelous old-world architecture of Montevideo,
Uruguay, the pristine lakes and snow-capped volcanoes of Puerto Montt, Chile and
the Brazilian beaches of Rio.

The climate in South America mirrors North America's seasons, putting the
continents peak summer months in the middle of northern winters. Although
cruises to South America are offered from October through April, peak season is
reached during the months of December, January, and February.

Typically the cruises sail from Rio de Janeiro, Valparaiso, and Buenos
Aires, but some do depart from San Diego, New York and Fort Lauderdale Florida,
as well. In addition to the traditional stops that are actually on South
American land, ships sail around the continent, including the tip of Cape Horn,
often calling in the Falkland Islands and Antarctica as well as stops in Mexico
and Costa Rica. This exciting journey can last anywhere from 13 to 40 days, and
usually attracts passengers with an appetite for adventure and education. Most
cruise lines also offer pre- and post-cruise packages and overnight stays in
some of the South American port cities.

With a region as varied as South America, it's hard to know where to begin.
Amazon River cruises bring you close to the rainforest and the indigenous people
who live there. The Galapagos Islands off of Ecuador are a must-do for outdoor
lovers; add a trek to Machu Picchu before or after. And finally, a
Round-the-Horn cruise takes passengers from Brazil south to the tip of Argentina
before exploring the fjords of Chile.

New Zealanders will be able to travel to South America by cruise ship for
the first time. Princess Cruises will become the first company offering a
circumnavigation of the region from Downunder in early 2017.

The 89-day round-trip on the Sea Princess starts in Brisbane and will visit
28 ports in 18 countries across the South Pacific, South America and the
Caribbean, and includes overnight stays in Buenos Aires, Lima and Rio de
Janeiro.

The 14 countries and territories that comprise the continent are, of
course, diverse; some bear the imprimatur of colonial Spanish or Portuguese
legacies, others that of indigenous tribes of Indians whose cultures continue
their impact. Another reason? You'll experience no trace of cruise ship
congestion -- whether sailing in a fjord or docking in Buenos Aires. There's
plenty of room for all the ships that call there.

The gorgeous town of Arica is really as lovely because it is diverse. You
are able to lie around the beach drinking inspiring local concoctions, and hike
the paths from the glorious Lauca National Park in within 24 hours. The park's
moun...

Buenos Aires, the ninth-largest city in the world, rises
from the Río de la Plata and stretches more than 200 square km (75 square mi) to
the surrounding Argentine plains. This sprawling city is best explored one
neighborhood at a time ...

Caracas is easily the most unique city in Venezuela. In addition to being
the main city, it mixes its modern society's high-rise structures using the
historic country houses (quintas) together with the coffee and sugar stick farms
(hacie...

Within the 16th
century, the Spanish set about capturing the locals from the beautiful seaside
town of Guayaquil. The legend of the exciting town has is the fact that, prior
to being defeated, the prince and princess of the close-knit cl...

French Guiana stands out among South American countries as the only
member of the European Union. The penal colony of Cayenne (French: Bagne de
Cayenne), commonly known as Devil's Island, was a notorious prison of the 19th
and 20th centu...

A trip to Isla Margarita, a 363 square mile island surrounded by the
Caribbean at about 23 miles from the coast of Venezuela, is a spectacular
journey into the glorious past of the region and its swanky present.
Porlamar, the largest ...

Rarely does a town's name describe its ambiance more perfectly than La Serena, Chile. La Serena ("The Serene") is a town where everything feels slowed down. You have two choices upon arrival. You can spend the entire day on the beach and be...

Lima is a cache of ancient magnificence located around the sea from the
Gulf Of Mexico. It is an old worldly city that boasts of an impressive
historical legacy. From bustling activities to rejuvenating sightseeing options,
Lima is a cac...

Manaus is a Brazilian city of
over 1.5 million people that sits at the junction of the Rio Negro and Solimoes
Rivers. These two rivers meet in Manaus and join together to form the Amazon
River. Manaus is
the capital city of the State o...

Ecuador straddles the equator and is the smallest of the Andean countries
in South America. At about the same size as the state of Nevada, the geography
is diverse and the countryside spectacular. The Seven Seas Navigator stopped
over fo...

Montevideo is the Capital and main city of Uruguay, which are the tiniest
yet significant nations of Latin America. Urugay sees more travelers each year
than most other South American destinations. Montevideo is visually stunning,
and is...

Puerto Montt in southern Chile is a cruise port city
signaling the entrance to the Patagonia region. Protected by the island of
Tenglo, the city has a population of about 175,000 and is situated at the north
end of the Reloncavi, a fjord...

Puerto Ordaz sticks out as the odd one out in Venezuela. Its surrounding
cities, such as San Felix, were established centuries ago. Puerto Ordaz is a
fairly recent town that came into being only in the 60’s. The town features a
modern ...

In
1520, Magellan was encircling around the Tierra del Fuego as he discovered Punta
Arenas, along the southernmost belt of Chile. This region grew to become hugely
popular due to its strategic geographic location, abundant natural assets...

Recife and Olinda stand within
sight of each other on Brazil's Northeast coast, one city on a hilltop, the
other on a river mouth, one founded by the Portuguese, the other by the
Dutch.
Recife, in
keeping with the commercial characte...

Rio
de Janeiro is a breathtakingly beautiful city that is highly popular with
tourists for its gorgeous beaches, revelry attitude and wild parties. The yearly
Carnival is boisterous fun at its best, and for those who are lucky to be in
...

San
Andrés Island may be the greatest accumulation of islands within the Caribbean
Sea. While Christopher Columbus was the very first European to really unearth
the Islands. British Pilgrims settled them in early 17th Century. Within th...

Valparaíso is a city of around 300,000 on the Pacific coast of Central Chile.
Frequently referred to as simply Valpo, it is located approximately 120km /
(74.5 mile) west of the capital, Santiago de Chile. The city is widely known
for...

Sao Paulo Port in Brazil is widely developed, being one of the busiest
container terminals in South America. São Paulo, capital of the state of that
name and the largest city in South America, is 72km/45mi from Santos,
408km/254mi f...

Ushuaia is an illustrious port located at the tip of Argentina. It is
strategically housed on the largest island in the Tierra del Fuego, an
archipelago just south of the Argentinean expanse. The island's striking natural
beauty is incom...